Both my Mum and Dad are in their 80's and both suffer from, in varying degrees from the condition age related macular degeneration which, although does not result in blindness can restrict vision in the centre of the eye. Mum in whom the condition is more severe loves her fixed Big Button BT phone but Dad still likes to wander about , (don't we all) whilst on the phone and to this end we chose a portable hand set which was recommended by The Somerset association which offers help and advice to partially sighted folks and has a range of aids like speaking clocks and weighing scales, special talking book machines and similar helpful gadgets.

Obviously the factor that was the most important was large buttons and a very clear screen and ease of use. It gets top marks for all three. You can buy up to five handsets which will cover a large house and out into the garden we went for just the one as it is only Dad that uses it.. It sits on it's neat charging stand on the hall table plugged into the mains and also into the phone line socket and provides an essential link to the outside world.

When we bought the phone kit it contained the handset, a base, two AAA batteries already in the hand set, mains power adaptor with a cord 2metres in length and a telephone cord . There was also an instruction booklet to help in setting up the phone.

It was stressed that the base station must be fully charged before you pop the handset into the base, this can take up to 20 hours to charge which seems a long time to me but as my brother was in charge of the set up and it took two days discussion as to where to place the phone maybe that's not a long time although the manual says keep the phone at least 1metre away from other electrical appliances, ours works quite happily next to the BT Big phone. We are also told not to place the handset in the bathroom or other humid areas. Although this type of phone works on the line of sight principal we can wander around the little house up and down without any loss of signal which means you can hunt for that elusive piece of paper whilst you are on the phone.

When the base is charged a battery icon lights up on the phone and you can then plug in the phone line. You then have 10hours of talk time or 100hours at stand bye.

The handset which is quite attractive looking in black and graphite. measures 5cm x 17cm x 3cm which fits comfortably into your hand and the all important screen is 4cm x3cm. When in use the letters and numbers are in bold black on a glowing orange screen, if you do not press any buttons for 30secs the screen light goes out. The buttons are big and black and the numbers are in white and are very easy to see.The phone book which can contain 50 names option is smack in the middle of the phone. One press opens the phone book and you just keep pressing until you reach the name that you want then press dial. Above the phone book button is the menu button which has a tick on it and the X button which takes you back to the previous screen, below the phone book is the call button in green and the hang up button in red.


The phone is hearing aid friendly and has speaker phone option, mute, hands free, redial, keypad lock, new call alert and 8 speed dial options, I am number 7!


I am very impressed by how easy it is to use this phone and it has certainly kept my Dad in touch with his many friends and family.Mum finds it too difficult to use but her eyesight is now very poor. The clarity of sound is very good and the volume control is responsive.


We paid around 40.00pounds for this easy to use phone which we have had for over two years and I have used it many times whist on my frequent visits. I feel that this phone would really help anyone with eye or hearing problems or, anyone who likes easy to see and easy to use phone.

5 stars from me I find it hard to fault it.

Thanks for reading my review which may also be posted on Ciao under splishsplash.